Script on Eco-Tourism

Ｐｅｒｓｏｎ： Ｈａｖｅ ｙｏｕ ｈｅａｒｄ ａｂｏｕｔ Ｌｏｋｔａｋ Ｌａｋｅ ｉｎ

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Ｍａｎｉｐｕｒ？

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Ｄｉａｌｏｇｕｅ Ｐａｒｔｎｅｒ： Ｙｅｓ， ｉｎｄｅｅｄ． Ｌｏｋｔａｋ Ｌａｋｅ ｉｓ ｎｏｔ

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ｏｎｌｙ ｔｈｅ ｌａｒｇｅｓｔ ｆｒｅｓｈｗａｔｅｒ ｌａｋｅ ｉｎ Ｎｏｒｔｈｅａｓｔ Ｉｎｄｉａ，

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ｂｕｔ ｉｔ＇ｓ ａｌｓｏ ａ ｖｉｔａｌ ｅｃｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌ ｔｒｅａｓｕｒｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｇｉｏｎ，

ｗｅｌｌ－ｋｎｏｗｎ ｆｏｒ ｉｔｓ ｄｉｓｔｉｎｃｔｉｖｅ ｐｈｕｍｄｉｓ．

Ｐｅｒｓｏｎ： Ｗｈａｔ＇ｓ ｓｏ ｓｐｅｃｉａｌ ａｂｏｕｔ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｐｈｕｍｄｉｓ？

Ｄｉａｌｏｇｕｅ Ｐａｒｔｎｅｒ： Ｗｈａｔ ｔｒｕｌｙ ｓｅｔｓ ｔｈｅ ｐｈｕｍｄｉｓ ａｐａｒｔ

ｉｓ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ． Ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｈｅｔｅｒｏｇｅｎｅｏｕｓ ｍａｓｓｅｓ ｏｆ

ｖｅｇｅｔａｔｉｏｎ， ｓｏｉｌ， ａｎｄ ｏｒｇａｎｉｃ ｄｅｂｒｉｓ ｔｈａｔ ｈａｖｅ ｏｖｅｒ

ｔｉｍｅ， ｉｎｔｅｒｔｗｉｎｅｄ ａｎｄ ｔｈｉｃｋｅｎｅｄ ｉｎｔｏ ｓｏｌｉｄ ｆｏｒｍｓ．

Ｔｈｅｓｅ ｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎｓ ｆｌｏａｔ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ｌａｋｅ＇ｓ ｓｕｒｆａｃｅ， ｃｒｅａｔｉｎｇ

ａ ｒｅｍａｒｋａｂｌｅ ａｎｄ ｄｙｎａｍｉｃ ｈａｂｉｔａｔ ｔｈａｔ ｓｈｉｆｔｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｔｈｅ

ｓｅａｓｏｎｓ．
Person: That sounds interesting! What animals
live there?
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Dialogue Partner: The lake provides a refuge for
an array of fauna, but most notably, it supports

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the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating

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national park in the world. This park is the

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natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer,

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also known as the Manipuri Brow-antlered deer,

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an endemic and graceful species. Moreover, the

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lake's avian population is diverse, attracting a

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plethora of bird watchers and researchers.

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Person: Why is the Sangai deer endangered?

Dialogue Partner: The Sangai deer's peril comes

largely from human encroachment and a
consequent shrinkage of its habitat. With
increased development and the transformation
of land for agriculture, their living space is
diminishing. Moreover, the delicate balance of
the Loktak ecosystem, essential for their survival
, is threatened by pollution and unsustainable
fishing practices.

Person: We should protect these habitats and

animals, right?
Person: Have you heard about Loktak Lake in
Manipur? Dialogue Partner: Yes, it's the largest
freshwater lake in South Asia, known for its
floating islands called phumdis. Person: What's
so special about these phumdis? Dialogue

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Partner: They are like floating masses of

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vegetation, soil, and organic matter, creating a

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unique ecosystem. Person: That sounds

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interesting! What animals live there? Dialogue

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Partner: Keibul Lamjao National Park, within the

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lake, is home to the endangered Sangai deer and

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a variety of bird species. Person: Why is the

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Sangai deer endangered? Dialogue Partner:
Human activities and habitat loss have put the
Sangai deer population at risk in Manipur. Person
: We should protect these habitats and animals,
right? Dialogue Partner: Absolutely, conservation
efforts are crucial to safeguard the beauty and
biodiversity of Loktak Lake and its surroundings
for future generations.